Tourism Matters

In this episode of Tourism Matters, I’m joined by Hannah Pearson, founder of Pear Anderson and co-host of the Southeast Asia Travel Show.Hannah’s career has taken her from studying languages at Oxford to teaching in France and China, corporate London, Kuala Lumpur, travel startups, market representation and founding Pear Anderson, a tourism sales, marketing and market intelligence business focused on Southeast Asia.We talk about winding tourism careers, unexpected opportunities, building a business in travel, and how Hannah’s weekly Southeast Asia travel report became a trusted industry resource during COVID.We also discuss workforce challenges, including the disconnect between education and industry, the need for better training, and why passion matters but cannot replace fair pay, support and development.What you will takeaway... Tourism careers rarely follow a straight line  Sales in tourism is really about relationships and market fit  Consistency can build serious credibility over time  Education, industry and young professionals are often disconnected  Passion matters, but it cannot be used as an excuse for burnout About Hannah PearsonHannah Pearson is the founder of Pear Anderson, a tourism sales, marketing and market intelligence company focused on Southeast Asia.Originally from the UK, Hannah studied French and Classics at Oxford before working across China, Malaysia, outbound travel, B2B sales, travel tech, market representation and tourism research.She is also co-host of the Southeast Asia Travel Show.Organisations ReferencedPear Anderson – https://www.pearanderson.com Report: The Evolving Tourism Workforce: Human Capital Development in APAC – https://www.pata.org/research-q1v63g6n2dw/p/human-capital-development-in-apac Southeast Asia Travel Show – https://www.theseasiatravelshow.com/ PATA – https://www.pata.org VisitBritain – https://www.visitbritain.org GoQuo – https://www.goquo.com University of Oxford – https://www.ox.ac.ukEpisode Chapters 00:00 – Introduction to Hannah Pearson 02:57 – Hannah’s early life, travel and love of languages 05:48 – Studying at Oxford and spending a year in France 08:42 – Teaching in China and travelling home via the Trans-Siberian Railway 11:24 – Returning to the UK and starting corporate life 14:14 – Moving to Malaysia and entering the travel industry 16:58 – Building an outbound travel team in Kuala Lumpur 19:51 – Sales, representation and building networks across Southeast Asia 22:33 – Cultural awareness and market differences in Southeast Asian travel 24:01 – Navigating language, culture and practical challenges on the road 26:15 – Moving into the travel startup world 28:01 – Learning travel tech, dynamic packaging and airline partnerships 29:17 – The reality of entrepreneurship in tourism 31:19 – Launching Pear Anderson and choosing independence 34:00 – How COVID reshaped the business 36:31 – Creating a weekly Southeast Asia travel intelligence resource 38:04 – Growing Pear Anderson and building industry influence 40:31 – Workforce challenges, education and industry disconnects 46:21 – Passion, wages and retaining people in tourism 50:24 – Hannah’s final reflections

Episode DescriptionThis one flips the script.For the first time on Tourism Matters, Carmen moves from host to guest, with Sarah Jane Tilbury taking the reins.What unfolds is not a polished career narrative. It’s a real one.From retail floors to reservations desks, bungy platforms to Rugby World Cup operations, entrepreneurship to industry capability work - Carmen’s 25-year career is built on instinct, movement, and saying yes to opportunity.There’s no linear path here. But there is a pattern.Follow your gut. Stay close to the industry. Take the next interesting step.This episode pulls back the curtain on what a tourism career actually looks like - and why the industry has far more depth, opportunity, and longevity than people give it credit for.What You’ll Take Away Why tourism careers rarely follow a straight path — and why that’s a strength  How early decisions (and non-decisions) shape long-term career direction  What working across Australia and New Zealand teaches you about the industry  The reality of frontline roles — and why they accelerate learning fast  Lessons from major events like the Rugby World Cup 2011 The difference between having experience and building capability  Why entrepreneurship is a sharper teacher than most jobs  The hidden career pathways most people don’t see in tourism  Why the industry has a workforce perception problem  How human connection — not systems — defines great tourism experiences About Sarah Jane TilburySarah Jane Tilbury is an experienced tourism and operations leader with a background spanning transport, experiences, and team leadership across Australia and the UK.She brings a sharp operational lens, a strong understanding of people and performance, and just enough humour to keep Carmen on her toes.Organisations & Platforms ReferencedSeaLink: www.sealink.com.auAdventure Tours Australia: www.adventuretours.com.au/AJ Hackett Bungy: www.bungy.co.nz/Tourism Holdings Limited: https://www.thlonline.com/Kiwi Experience: https://www.kiwiexperience.com/Destination Southern Tasmania: https://southerntasmania.com.au/ Tourism Matters Careers (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/company/tourism-matters-careers/ carmenbold.com: https://www.carmenbold.com/Episode Chapters00:00 – Introduction and role reversal with Sarah Jane Tilbury 02:00 – Following instinct and staying connected in the industry 07:00 – Early career decisions and entering tourism 10:00 – First roles in reservations and industry exposure 17:00 – Moving to New Zealand and adventure tourism 22:00 – Bungy, celebrities, and unexpected moments 29:00 – Rugby World Cup and large-scale event operations 32:00 – Operational leadership and career progression 39:00 – Entrepreneurship and the reality of building a business 44:00 – Industry development, mentoring, and education 50:00 – Why Tourism Matters exists 54:00 – Workforce challenges and industry perception 58:00 – The role of people in delivering experiences 61:00 – Advice for emerging professionals 64:00 – Final reflections on career, industry, and opportunity

Tabetha Beggs hasn’t followed a straight path - no, no.In this episode of Tourism Matters, Carmen sits down with Tabetha Beggs, Tourism Experiences Lead at Destination Perth, to explore a career shaped by curiosity, risk-taking, and a willingness to step into opportunities before feeling fully ready.From early ambitions in the arts to roles across tourism, local government, and destination development, Tabetha shares how each experience - expected or not - has contributed to where she is today.This is a conversation about backing yourself, listening deeply to communities, and understanding that tourism is ultimately about people and stories.What You’ll Take AwayWhy applying for jobs you’re not “qualified” for can change your careerThe role of lived experience in shaping tourism professionalsWhy community voice matters in destination marketingHow regional tourism organisations are evolving beyond marketingThe value of saying yes to unexpected opportunitiesWhy no experience is ever wasted — even the ones that don’t make sense at the timeThe importance of storytelling in tourism and place-makingAbout Tabetha BeggsTabetha is the Tourism Experiences Lead at Destination Perth, with a career spanning tourism, arts, local government, and destination development.She has previously held roles with Tourism Western Australia and the City of Perth, and is deeply passionate about community engagement, storytelling, and creating meaningful tourism experiences.Tabetha is also an active mentor, supporting emerging leaders through the Women in Tourism & Hospitality Mentorship Program.Connecting with TabethaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tabetha-beggs-a57a2771/Organisations ReferencedDestination Perth: https://www.destinationperth.com.au/Tourism Western Australia: https://www.westernaustralia.com/en/pages/homeRoyal Society of Arts: https://www.thersa.org/Episode Chapters00:00 – Introduction to Tabetha Beggs00:30 – From cheese counter to career beginnings01:20 – Applying for roles before you’re ready02:16 – Travel, perspective, and curiosity03:51 – Growing up in Perth Hills06:43 – Early career ambitions and work experience09:47 – Arts, theatre, and life experience12:51 – The unexpected value of early jobs16:16 – Moving to the UK and career pivots18:39 – Taking risks and saying yes20:35 – Why you should apply anyway22:34 – Working across the UK in exhibitions25:00 – Returning to Australia and career challenges29:34 – Kalgoorlie and unexpected opportunities36:30 – Transition into tourism41:28 – Strategic roles and industry involvement45:00 – Community voice in tourism55:00 – Mentorship and career growth60:43 – Networking and volunteering66:18 – Open-minded travel and learning68:43 – Storytelling in tourism75:14 – The evolving role of RTOs77:30 – Final reflections